[Excellent exposure for the mitral valve by means of dissection of the interatrial groove].

A technique to approach the mitral valve through a left atrial incision under dissecting the interatrial groove is described. The dissection of the interatrial groove makes the left atrial incision more anterior and medial. Therefore excellent mitral valve exposure was obtained. 40 of 61 mitral valvular procedures during past 1.5-year period were approached through this incision. We could achieve better exposure of the mitral valve than that of conventional atrial incision technique. This technique takes not so long time and rarely carries complications including dysarrhythmia and bleeding.